First published in 1865, the tale of "Alice In Wonderland" has enchanted young and old alike for generations.
In tonight's Kids In Action, reporter Rick Carhart shows us how the Chico Community Ballet is bringing the popular children's story to the Laxson Auditorium stage.
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Courtney Osteen has been dancing for a long time...and the 17-year old knows how to bring a character to life.
Courtney says, "it's wonderful because acting you speak to get the point across but through dancing you use your entire body to convey this message."
Catherine Sullivan is the director of "Alice In Wonderland". She says this version is unique because, while the story lends itself to theater and the big screen, nobody had really produced a ballet version of the show.
Catherine says, "I saw possibilities that those characters could tell their tale in movement alone without having the actual text."
Kids as young as seven years old grace the stage in this performance. They begin with small roles and move up to bigger parts.
Amber English danced in Sullivan's previous production of "Alice" in 2004. She's now an 18-year old college student with a lead role.
Amber says, "dance is one of the only ways I can really express myself, through your body, acting...it's just how I am...I don't know what I'd do without dance."
And the older dancers become mentors for the little ones.
Courtney says, "I love playing with them. I know they look up to me so I like helping them with their dancing and inspiring them."
Amber says, "they brighten up the stage. It's amazing working with them and seeing their progress."
The company began work on the show three months ago, and some of them are rehearsing up to six days a week.
Catherine says, "watching the dancers embrace their roles and develop them has been wonderful. At this point they own the ballet."
And with the show opening this week, all that hard work is about to pay off. In Chico, I'm Rick Carhart for Action News.
You can see Alice In Wonderland this weekend at Laxson Auditorium on the Chico State campus.
Shows are Friday and Saturday evenings, with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2.
Tickets range from $16-$25 and are available at the University Box Office.
And if you know a young person who should be featured on our Sunday 'Kids In Action', you'll find the nomination form on our web sites.
